Welcome to Stat 226!

About Me

  • Third year graduate student
  • My research interests:
    • Web-based interactive data visualization
    • Statistical computation
    • Sports (especially baseball)
  • Previously:
    • AT&T intern (last summer)
    • Data Analyst (before grad school)

Contact Me

  • Please contact me via email: sievert@iastate.edu
  • If I have not responded to you within 24 hours, please send me a friendly reminder.
  • I will not answer questions about the homework on the day it is due!!!
  • My actual office is Snecedor 3414, but office hours will be held in 1205.

Motivating statistics

  • I'll be honest: stats can be hard/boring!
    • As in many fields, you have to work hard and learn (sometimes boring) things before you can do the fun stuff!
  • BUT, it's not irrelevant:
    • Google uses statistics to optimize search results.
    • Netflix uses statistics to makes suggestions based on your viewing history.
    • Facebook uses statistics to study human behavior and the dynamics of social networks.
    • The government uses statistics to track down terriorists!
  • When computing power increases, so does our ability to understand the world with data modeling.
  • Data-driven, well-informed business decisions will become very important – even for small businesses!
  • If you can speak the language of statistics, you will have a big advantage!
  • Computing power also sparks innovation – the internet of things is not far away!

Am I blowing your mind yet, man?

I promise...

  • I will do my best to keep your interest by:
    • Imposing my weird sense of humor upon you.
    • Deviating from the standard lecture notes as much as possible (i.e., using my own slides, examples, worksheets, group work)
    • Keeping myself interested with fresh examples using sports, business, finance, or anything you want – give me suggestions!
  • To start class at 3:40pm sharp and end at 5:00pm (give or take a minute)
    • I will account for a short break (< 5 min) in middle of class

If you promise...

  • To be professional. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Respect your classmates
    • Respect me - that includes email!
    • Follow my suggestions for success
    • Laugh at my jokes

Tips for success in 226

  • Read the Tips for Student Success section on your syllabus (top of pg 2).

  • Read lecture notes before class! Participate in class!

  • Start on your homework early (especially when working with JMP)!

  • Use office hours! All the instructors have office hours. Don't be intimidated to come and ask questions, but don't expect us to do your homework. Schedules will be posted on blackboard.

  • Use Supplemental Instruction (SI)! Schedule will be announced soon.

Grading

  • Online Quizzes 5%
  • In-Class Quizzes & Participation 5%
  • Project 10%
  • HW 15%
  • Exam 1 20%
  • Exam 2 20%
  • Final Exam 25%

  • Final grades are determined from your final percentage. The conversion from percentage to grade is determined after the final!

Groups

  • You will work in groups of size 4 for the project.
  • You will also use this group for in-class work.
  • Details on my evaluation of Class Participation next week.

Accommodation

If you have one…let me know as soon as possible

Academic Dishonesty

A poor grade is better than a record of cheating…

Any Questions???